Parish life is full of opportunities to grow in faith, from Sunday Mass and Bible studies to fish fries and pancake breakfasts. These moments bring people together and help build a vibrant parish community. Yet even in a parish full of life and activity, it’s easy to lose sight of something we all need: time to simply be with Jesus.
Paul Wilburn had seen firsthand what could happen when college students stepped away from their usual routines to spend a weekend in prayer and the sacraments. He wondered what that same experience might look like for the families and individuals at his parish in North Dakota.
Fr. Justin Braun shared that desire for his own parishioners. The retreats would bring stories of conversion, renewed faith and a growing desire among parishioners to share Christ with others.
Making Room for God to Work: Paul’s Story
“I wanted people to go deeper,” Paul recalled.
He hoped that setting aside a weekend for prayer would help parishioners grow closer to Christ and encourage them to become more involved in Bible studies, small groups and the life of the parish.
At the first retreat, several parishioners returned to confession after more than 20 years away. At a subsequent retreat, a woman who had recently begun attending Mass again experienced a profound conversion and returned to the sacrament for the first time in 30 years.
One couple attended during a difficult season and found renewed strength in their faith. The wife later became involved in leading a ministry, while some of the small groups that began during the retreats continued meeting after the weekend ended.
Another memorable moment came when nine North Dakota State University football players attended a parish retreat together. One of them had recently returned to a relationship with Jesus after attending SEEK. Following the retreat, he expressed a desire to lead a Bible study for his teammates and take a more active role in sharing his faith.
The parish has now hosted three retreats, drawing approximately 100 participants to the first, 65 to the second and 85 to the third. Some have returned year after year, and parish staff and volunteers have taken an active role in keeping the retreats going.
Hosting locally has helped make the experience accessible to more people. With childcare available and registration costs subsidized, families can participate without having to travel or spend a weekend away from their children.
Each retreat required the dedication of parish staff and volunteers, along with guidance from the FOCUS Retreats team on everything from the retreat structure and talks to promotional materials and planning. Together, their efforts have helped make retreats a continuing part of parish life.
Paul encourages other parish leaders to consider what might happen if they gave their parishioners the same opportunity.
“Whenever you can get them out of their day-to-day life and routine to focus on God,” he said, “that is going to be such a significant amount of time in their year.”
Encountering the Father’s Love: Fr. Justin’s Story
Fr. Justin Braun wanted to offer something meaningful to parishioners already practicing their faith: time to rediscover the love at the heart of their relationship with Christ.
Having experienced FOCUS Retreats as a college chaplain, he was drawn to The Father’s House, a retreat centered on our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God.
Many parish formation opportunities, he explained, focus on what Catholics are called to do. He wanted his parishioners to reflect more deeply on why they follow Christ.
“Because the love of the Father is so immense,” he said.
With a trained retreat director and a team of parish volunteers, Fr. Justin’s parish welcomed approximately 55 participants for The Father’s House Retreat.
Rather than overseeing every detail, Fr. Justin was free to spend much of the weekend praying alongside his parishioners, participating in small groups and offering spiritual guidance.
“Just having the ability to walk with my people rather than just being the shepherd out in front, I got to be with them and to shepherd them and guide them,” he shared.
One moment in particular has stayed with him.
During Eucharistic Adoration and the Father’s Blessing, Fr. Justin stood before parishioners he knew personally, many of whom he had accompanied for years. As they opened their hearts in prayer, he was moved to tears.
He recalled the vulnerability of those gathered and the privilege of being present with them as their priest.
“It’s not you. It has nothing to do with you as a man. It’s just Jesus, the priest,” he said.
In the months that followed, a young married couple experienced a renewed commitment to Christ, while another couple, both of whom had difficult relationships with their own fathers, came away with a deeper understanding of God’s fatherly love.
Fr. Justin also noticed a change in the way parishioners approached their involvement in parish life. Some who had been hesitant about leading small groups were now eager to begin.
“Father, we’d like to. When can we start?” he recalled hearing.
Looking back, he hopes other priests will consider offering a similar experience in their own parishes.
“Be willing to take the risk. It’s totally worth it,” he said.
Having experienced many parish retreats over the years, Fr. Justin could not recall another that had such an immediate and obvious impact on the lives of his parishioners.
Bring a FOCUS Retreat to Your Parish
The time parishioners spend with the Lord during a retreat doesn’t have to end when they return home. As Paul and Fr. Justin have witnessed, those encounters can inspire people to grow in faith, serve their parish and invite others into a relationship with Christ.
FOCUS Retreats works alongside parish leaders, providing training, resources and guidance to help bring these experiences to their communities.
Explore the retreat experiences available and learn how to host a FOCUS Retreat at your parish.
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